And the winners of the Billboard Music Awards are … Taylor Swift and weirdly restrained fashion

Kate Halfpenny
May 21, 2018, updated May 21, 2018

Singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Taylor Swift got very into the show. Photo: Getty

At her first awards show in two years, Taylor Swift didn’t disappoint on any front at the Billboard Music Awards 2018 in Las Vegas.

Her surprise appearance was the first bonus, given she’s been notably reclusive. The last time she graced a red carpet was at May 2016’s BMI Pop Awards.

Second, the Grammy winner abandoned gimmick-dressing and went slinky in a glamorous old Hollywood Versace dress with thigh-high split and embellished silver details and retro-style Casadei heels.

Third, she served up what was called “some serious sass” watching Kelly Clarkson’s opening medley of nominees’ songs.

When The Voice judge Clarkson sang Swift’s hit Look What You Made Me Do, Taylor, 28, didn’t hold back on her reaction.

Sitting between her friends Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, she was caught on camera rolling her eyes, checking out her manicure and casually singing along before starting to laugh.

MOOD. @taylorswift13 #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/MmM8A5ka4E

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 21, 2018

The social media reaction was, well, swift:

@taylorswift13 ATTITUDE DURING LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO IS EVERYTHING 😍❤️😒🤣

— Mel (@alltoowell68) May 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/jennafaithm13/status/998356136280539136

Swift backed up her attitude with two wins from five nominations, losing out in the top artist category to Ed Sheeran, but taking home top female artist and top-selling album categories.

Accepting the top female gong, she gave a shout out to girl power, thanking “all the female artists who paved the way for us to get to do what we do the way we get to do it”.

She added: “All the new female artists who are killing it out there right now, we’re so inspired by you.”

Swift may have thrown shade and drawn the spotlight, but she wasn’t the only talking point. The other major one was the weirdly restrained fashion choices on a night when most stars usually showcase individual choices and fabulous bad taste.

The biggest trend? It was almost like someone sent a memo saying not wearing a thigh high split is illegal in Nevada. Wait – maybe it is.

Photo: Getty

Jennifer Lopez was one who rocked the boat. While getting rid of her long hair was a winner, JLo looked like she’d skinned a velour and pleather couch en route – and was unhappy with the results.

Photo: Getty

Demi Lovato, all animal print, plunging neckline and endless split, was just on the right side of glamorous rather than tacky.

Photo: Getty

The shoulders were whack in a good way – a girl has to stand out somehow – and the overall effect for singer Bebe Rexha was demure: high neck, floor length, nude lip, semi-protective hands.

Photo: Getty

Taylor went for a look that said lady meets showgirl. Winner.

Photo: Getty

For a music industry shindig, Hailey Baldwin was all class. A little clichéd, but her golden Grecian gown did the job perfectly.

Photo: Getty

Kelly Clarkson’s look was busy with the strappy bejewelled sandals, mandatory split, belt and sculptural shoulders, but maybe this is what grown-up singers look like.

Photo: Getty

Tyra Banks overdid the scary cat’s eye makeup and the dress had the homemade panache of a Year 11 sewing class project, but it somehow still avoided being truly horrible.

Photo: Getty

Dua Lipa was just rock ‘n’ roll enough without being a figure of fun: great colour, mullet skirt in requisite shiny fabric, statement necklace that could take out someone’s eye. Tick.

Photo: Getty

In an example of weird alchemy, even fashioning see-through bandages into a sort of dress didn’t make Ciara a beacon of bad taste.

Photo: Getty

Jenna Dewan was more classically rock than most, loading up on studs, black leather, heels and a strapless gladiator mini.

Photo: Getty

Mila Kunis (with cool fringe) also went leggy but her shoes said well-dressed office worker and her dress said party.

Then there was the duo who decided to totally push out the boat and go full-on, signature-music-awards awful.

Photo: Getty

Kesha went country in a Morticia Addams way – hair, hat, fugly boots – after stealing a shawl someone had draped over their front-room lamp to make things feel cosy.

Photo: Getty

This is something else. Perennial envelope-pusher Z La La paid homage to Coneheads, Marge Simpson and Medusa with a dress that looked like a gilded bowl of spaghetti. Bravo!